Brake beam support



Feb. 24, 1948. D. s. BARROWS BRAKE BEAM SUPPORT Filed Jan.

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Patented Feb. 24, 1948 UNITED STATES ATENT ()FFICE BRAKE BEAM SUPPORT Donald S. Barrows, Rochester, N. Y., assignor to The Symington-Gould Corporation, Rochester, N. Y., a corporation of Maryland Application January 15, 1945, Serial No. 572,893

20 Claims. 1

This inventionpertains to a brake beam support for a'railway car truck and more particularly to a compensatingtype thereof.

'A broad object of the'invention is theprovision of adjusting or compensating means carried by a side frame and so arranged and constructed that, irrespective of the vertical travel or elevation of a side frame relative to journal boxes, brake beams of arailway truck will be retained in a vertical position or elevation fixed with respect to the journal boxes.

A featureof the invention-is the provision of spaced, rigid means carried by aside frame and each having spaced arms, one of which is associated with a journal-box and another of which is associated 'witha member extending between the journal boxes and including guideways for the reception of brake beam extremities.

A further feature of the invention is the provision of spaced'hanger or suspension means associated with a side frame between a bolster opening and a journal box with a rigid means pivotally associated with the suspension means and beingoperatively associated with a journal box and a member including a guideway for a brake'beam.

The above, as Well as numerous-other objects and features will become apparent from the accompanying drawings, considered in conjunction with the succeeding detailed description. Reference is now made generally to the drawings wherein:

Figure 1 is'a side elevational view of a portion of a railway truck embodying a form of the present invention.

Figure 2 is aplan view of the structure illustrated in Figure 1.

Figure 3 is a sectional view taken along the lines 3-3 of Figure 1, looking in the direction of the arrows.

Figure 4 is a sectional view taken along the lines 4-4 of Figure 1, looking in the direction of the arrows.

Figure 5 is a sectional view taken along the lines 5-5 of Figure 2, looking in thedirection of the arrows.

Referring now in-detail to the drawings, wherein, throughout the several views, like reference characters indicate like parts; the numeral I is employed to designate, in a somewhat general mannena railway car truck. The railway truck comprises a pair of side frames 2, only a portion of one of which is illustrated in the drawings because it is commonly known that a railwaytruck comprises two-side frames spaced transversely- 2 of the truck and extending longitudinally thereof. The side frames are tied together interme diate their ends by a load-carrying member'or transversely extending bolster 3 having an end.

portion 3 disposedin a Window 5 of the side frame to be there interlocked with the side frame and to transmit the load of a car body (not shown) to the frames. which the present invention .is particularly adaptable is the type thereof wherein the side frames are resiliently supported and, accordingly, the vertical disposition of an individual side frame is changing continually in running service and also during the loading and unloading of the car body. As illustrative of the type of railway car truck hereinabove discussed, there is shown a journal box 6 positioneda'djacent each end of a side frame and'forming a housing for bearings (not shown) of any type and which afford a free running movement of a wheel and axle assembly '1. Each journal box disposed between spaced jaws 8 of the side frame adjacent an end thereof may have outstanding therefrom wings or shelves 9 with the jaws forming containers or housingsfor resilient means to, the latter of which are interposed between the side frame and journal box shelves to thereby present a flexible or resilient support for the side frame. This described structure of journal box mounting maybe as illustrated, described and claimed in United States Patent 2,297,863, granted October 6,19i2, to D. S, Barrows et al. In this type of railway truck, because of the presence of the flexible or resilient support, and considered together with the fact that the vertical disposition of the axis of a wheel andaxle assembly remains constant with respect to a supporting rail throughout all service truck movements, the vertical relationship between the side frame and wheel and axle assembly is suhject'edto variation.

The mostcommonly-employed means to impede the progress of a railway car or retain a railway car in a predetermined position is a com ponent of the railwaytruck, namely a brake beam which is designated, throughout the several views of the drawings, by the reference character-H). The brake beam extends horizontally or transversel-y of the truck and has associated therewith, adjacent-its extremities, brake shoe heads and replaceable brake shoes H arranged to contact wheels of a Wheel and axle assembly.

For reasons that are apparent to those skilled in the art and neednot be herein enumerated, an ideal condition is attainedwhen the brake beam, though supported by a side frame, is-main The railway truck with tained at a predetermined elevation so that, irrespective of any vertical variation between the side frame and wheel and axle assembly, the brake beam will at all times travel along a fixed and definite path during an application or release action of the brakes. Toward the attainment of the above ideal condition, there is provided a brake beam carrier or support l2 desirably of cast form but, as will be appreciated, may be formed as a fabricated component. The instant structure is concerned primarily with the type of brake beam having an extension 13 of elongated cross sectional configuration and which projects outwardly of the truck from a related brake head in contrast to the type thereof employing a pivotal or swing hanger suspended from a jaw formed integral with the side frame and interlocked with the brake head. The brake beam support extends longitudinally of the truck between wheel and axle assemblies and below or adjacent to the inner edge of the side frame. Preferably the brake beam support comprises an intermediate bridge or spacer portion l4 having an upper horizontal top web I5 with depending, transversely spaced, vertical webs IE to thus present an inverted U-shape in cross section. It will be clearly understood, however, that the cross sectional configuration of the intermediate portion may be of any rigid, desired or optional design, just so long as it is capable of performing the function for which it is intended, hereinafter made apparent. Formed at each end of the top web is a guideway l1 defined in part by a bottom or lower wall l8, the latter of which in effect, forms a continuation of the top web. Spaced a predetermined distance above each lower wall and desirably parallel therewith, is a top or upper wall 19 defining the upper limits of the related guideway and having one end thereof connected integrally to the associated end of the bottom wall through the medium of an end wall 20. An inner web liia of the intermediate portion webs merges into the bottom walls in underlying relation thereto while the outer web 16b of these webs extends through the plane of the bottom walls to merge with the top and end walls and thus not only form rigidifying tie means but also present side walls 2| of the guideways closing the outer limits thereof. The brake beam support is thus made as an integral, rigid member with brake beam guideways at each end thereof in the proximity of wheels of wheel and axle assemblies with the guideways opening transversely or inwardly of the truck for the accommodation of the brake beam extensions [3 and also opening toward one another so that the brake beams may, if desired, be introduced into the guideways through these latter mentioned openings. Carried by the top and bottom walls are hearing or wear plates 22 secured to the related walls by any desired means.

From long and established practice, brake beams are most usually disposed below a horizontal plane bisecting the axis of the wheel and axle assembly and arranged so as to move along a path which, if extended, bisects the axis of the wheel and axle assembly so that the included angle between the extended path and a horizontal plane above mentioned will approximate 12 degrees. Accordingly, each guideway is inclined or disposed upwardly and outwardly or longitudinally of the truck so that the brake beam will travel, during application and release of the brakes, along a path which, if projected,

will intersect the axis of the wheel and axle assembly.

As previously implied, means has been incorporated in the truck to maintain the guideways in a fixed position and, as exemplary of such a means, there is provided a bracket, depending or suspension means or stationary hanger 23 formed by a pair' of posts, stanchions or standards 24 integral with and extending downwardly of the truck from each tension member 25 of the side frame and intermediate the bolster opening 5 and related journal box accommodating jaws. The posts at each side of the side frame have their free or lower extremities merging into an apertured hub or bearing 25, the axis of which is substantially horizontal and arranged at an angle to a vertical plane extending longitudinally of the side frame. Disposed toward an associated end of the side frame from each of the previously described brackets is an auxiliary bracket, depending or suspension means or stationary hanger 21 formed in part by a vertical wall 28 integral with a jaw 8 between the journal box and bolster. This vertical wall is in fact, preferably, a downward continuation of a part of the related jaw on the outer side of the side frame so as not to interfere with any of the truck components. Each vertical wall also terminates in a hub or bearing 29 which has an axis in substantial perfect alignment with the axis of a related bearing 2'6. Because of the relatively short effective length of the vertical walls each such wall is reinforced against service stresses by a stiffening rib 30 outstanding from the vertical wall as an integral part thereof and joining the related jaw and bearing 29. Extending through and connecting alignedbearings is a pivotal bar, pin or shaft 3! which may or may not be arranged to rotate about its axis relative to the supporting bearings, just so long as the portion thereof between aligned bearings is of cylindrical formation or cross section. Cotters 30a are associated with the shaft extremities outwardly of the bearings to retain the shaft in a predetermined position and prevent unwarranted or accidental displacement of the shaft.

Carried by each shaft is an integral, firm, rigid means or crank 32 desirably substantially U- shaped in plan and comprising an' intermediate shank 33 which is of tubular formation and extends horizontally between the related bearings. The shank of each rigid means is arranged to pivot about its axis relative to the encased shaft and, accordingly, is free to rotate in service.

Extending inwardly of the truck from an extremity of each shank adjacent a jaw hanger is a stiff, firm or rigid arm 34 desirably of I-sha-pe in vertical cross section and pointing toward an extremity of the truck where it terminates in an area beneath the related journal box as a cylindrical or roller extremity 35. The axis of the roller extremity is also disposed horizontally and at an angle to the vertical longitudinal plane of the side frame hereinabove referred to so that the axis of each cylindrical arm extremity is parallel to or substantially so, but spaced from, the axis of a related shaft for reasons which will be here-' inafter made apparent. Because the side frame moves vertically relative to the substantially sta-, tionary journal boxes, and also because of the slight tolerance between juxtapositioned guiding surfaces of each journal box and the side frame which tolerances allowa slight transverse movement between the journal boxes and side frame, it is believed at the present writing that eachjuncture of the arm and journal box should be-made-substantially flexible. Accordingly, the illustratedstructurediscloses a U-shaped strap or bracket 36 formed integrally with a floor of each journal box. Each strap opens transversely of the truck and is formed by a horizontal bed plate 37 having vertically spaced upstanding legs 38 all of which are disposed at an angle normal to the axis of the arm cylindrical extremity. The legs of each clip are, of course, spaced a solideient distance apart to accommodate a service movement of the enclosed roller extremity without any interference therebetween. A spring or resilient plate 39 is interlocked with each clip bed plate to bear vertically or upwardly against a related roller extremity to not only maintain the latter in bearing relation with the superimposed journal box bottom but to further function as an anti-rattling device. t is deemed advisable to here state that, preferably, the vertical center of each cylindrical extremity coincides normally with the vertical extremity of its associated journal box as most clearly illustrated in Figure 2 of the drawings by the intersecting diagrammatic lines. By this alignment of vertical centers it is believed that a true and accurate movement between the journal boxes and side frame will be reflected in the integral or rigid means or crank. As will be noted from the above, each journal box is permitted a free service movement and any vertical actionof the side frame will cause each rigid means or crank to rotate about its axis.

It will, of course, be clearly understood that the vertical centers above mentioned need not be in alignment and no such limitation is herein implied or intended because a reflection of the journal box-side frame movement may be equally effected by the arm or arm cylindrical extremity being associated with any part of the journal 'bOX.

Extending inwardly of the truck from the other extremity of each shank is a firm, rigid arm 40 which may be classified as a guide arm as opposed to the previously described arm, the latter of which also, for the sake of convenience and identification, may be termed as the journal box arm. Each guide arm, also of I-shape in cross section, projects beneath the side frame through the vertical plane thereof to terminate in a boss or embossment t! having an aperture in axial alignment with the related journal box arm cylindrical extremity. Depending from the bottom wall of each end of the brake beam support is a pair of spaced lugs or ears .12 arranged in straddling or overlapping relation with the related guide arm boss and correspondingly apertured to accommodate a hinging pin 23 pivotally connecting each guide arm and brake beam support. The brake beam is thus carried in a fixed, definite or predetermined position and, because of the effective lengths of the journal box arm and guide arm of each rigid means being equal, a vertical movement of the side frame relative to each journal box will result in each pivotal bar being carried vertically through a corresponding dis tance. As previously stated, the journal box or the wheel and axle assemblies remain at a fixed elevation and when the side frame moves vertically, the rigid means or cranks will pivot about the pivotal bar but the brake beam support will, like the journal boxes, remain at a fixed elevation to permit the brake beams to travel along their fixed predetermined paths toward or away from the axes of the wheel and axle assemblies.

From the above detailed description, considered with the disclosure of the drawings, it will be noted that various changes and. alterations may be made to the illustrated and describediconstruction without departing from within the spirit of the invention and scope'of theiappended claims.

I claim:

1. In a railway truck wherein a side frame is supported resiliently from a pair of journal boxes, the combination of, a member having guideways adjacent each end thereof and disposed between said journal boxes, said guideways accommodating ends of brake beams, and rigid means pivo'tally carried by said side frame; and each rigid means having spaced means connecting said member and an associated journal box.

2. In a railway truck wherein-a side frame is supported resiliently from a pair of journal-boxes, the combination of, a member having guideways adjacent each end thereof and positioned between said journal boxes, said guideways accommodating ends of brake beams, and means pivotally carried by said side frame and connecting each of said journal boxes to said member so that, as said side frame moves vertically relative to said journal boxes, said member will remain in a fixed elevation relative to said journal boxes.

3. In a railway truck wherein a side frame is supported resiliently from a pair of journal boxes, the combination of, a member arranged to have slidably associated therewith the ends of two brake beams, guideways in said member for the accommodation of said brake beam ends, and pivotal means carried by said side frame and being movably connected to said journal boxes and member so that, as said side frame moves vertically relative to said journal boxes, said member will remain in a substantially fixed elevation relative to said journal boxes.

4.. In a railway truck wherein a side frame is supported resiliently from a pair of journal boxes, the combination of, suspension means on said side frame, rigid means movably carried by said suspension means and movably connected to said journal boxes, and brake beam guides supported by said rigid means.

5. In a railway truck wherein a side frame is supported resiliently from a pair of journal boxes, the combination of, suspension means rigid with said side frame, rigid means movably carried by said suspension means and movably connected to said journal boxes, and brake beam guides movably supported by said rigid means. i

6. In a railway truck wherein a side frame is supported resiliently from a pair of journal boxes, the combination of, spaced rigid means pivctally secured to said side frame, means outstanding from said rigid means and connected to said journal boxes for actuating said rigid means, and a member including brake beam guides extending between and carried by said rigid means.

'7. In a railway truck wherein a side frame is supported resiliently from a pair of journal boxes, the combination of, spaced rigid means pivotally associated with said side frame, integral means extending inwardly of said truck from said rigid means, and being movably connected to said journal boxes, and a member including diverging brake beam guideways and being pivotally connected to said rigid means.

8. In a railway truck wherein a side frame .is supported resiliently from a pair of journal boxes, the combination of, rigid means pivotally associated with said side frame, integral means extending inwardly of said truck from said rigid means and being movably connected to said journal boxes, and an integral member including spaced brake beam guideways; said integral member being pivotally supported by said rigid means.

9. In a railway truck wherein a side frame is supported resiliently from a pair of journal boxes, the combination of, spaced rigid means pivotally carried by said side frame, spaced integral means extending inwardly of said truck from said rigid means and a member including spaced brake beam guides and extending between said rigid means; some of said integral means being movably secured to said journal boxes and others of said integral means being movably secured to said member.

10. In a railway truck wherein a side frame is supported resiliently from a pair of journal boxes, the combination of, spaced rigid means pivotally carried by said side frame, spaced means integral with said rigid means, and a single means including spaced inclined guideways for supporting brake beams; some of said integral means being movably connected to said journal boxes and others of said integral means being movably connected to said last named single means. I

11. In a railway truck wherein a side frame is supported resiliently from a pair of journal boxes, the combination of, spaced rigid means pivotally carried by said side frame, spaced means integral with said rigid means, and a single means including spaced inclined guideways for supporting brake beams; some of said integral means being connected to said journal boxes adjacent vertical axes thereof and others of said integral means underlying and pivotally connected to said last named single means.

12. In a railway truck wherein a side frame is supported resiliently from a pair of journal boxes, the combination of, horizontally spaced means pivotally carried by said side frame, spaced means integral with each of said first named means, and means including horizontally spaced guideways inclined with respect to one another and arranged to support brake beams; some of said integral means being movably connected to said journal boxes adjacent vertical axes thereof and others of said integral means being movably connected to said last named means.

13. In a railway car truck wherein a side frame and journal boxes are arranged for relative vertical movement, the combination of, a member terminating in oppositely disposed guideways for supporting brake beams, and movable means carried by said side frame for moving said member vertically relative to said side frame, said last named means being movably connected to said journal boxes.

14. In a railway car truck wherein a side frame and journal boxes are arranged for relative verti cal movement, the combination of, a member terminating in oppositely disposed guideways for supporting brake beams, and movable means carried by said side frame and connected to said journal boxes, said means being arranged to move said member vertically relative to said side frame 7 by an amount equal to a vertical relative movement between said side frame and journal boxes.

15. In a railway car truck wherein a side frame and a journal box are arranged for relative vertical movement, the combination of, a member comprising oppositely directed guideways for supporting brake beams, and movable means carried by said side frame and connected to said journal box and member, said means being arranged to move said member vertically relative to said side frame and in one direction by an amount substantially equal to a vertical movement ofsaid side frame relative to said journal box in an opposite direction.

16. In a railway car truck wherein a side frame and a journal box are arranged for relative vertical movement, the combination of, a member comprising oppositely directed guideways for supporting brake beams and pivot means carried by said side frame slidably connected to said journal box and pivotally connected to said member, said pivot means being arranged to move said member vertically relative to said side frame by an amount equal to a vertical movement of said side frame relative to said journal box.

17. In a railway car truck wherein a side frame and a journal box are arranged for relative vertical movement, the combination of, a member disposed inwardly of said truck from said side frame and comprising oppositely directed guideways for supporting brake beams, and means pivotally secured to said side frame; said means being movably connected to said member and movably connected to said journal box; said means being so arranged as to move said member upwardly relative to said side frame as the latter move downwardly relative to said journal box.

18. In a crank for use in a railway truck, the combination of, an intermediate shank having pivot means extending from each end thereof, an arm extending substantially normal to an axis of said shank, said arm being disposed adjacent one end of said shank and arranged to be movably connected to a brake beam support, and a crank arm extending from adjacent the other end of said shank and being arranged to be movably connected to a journal box.

19. In a crank for use in a railway truck, the combination of, an intermediate shank arranged to be pivotally connected to a side frame, an arm formed integrally with said shank adjacent an extremity thereof and arranged to be movably secured to a brake beam support, and a crank arm formed integrally with said shank adjacent another end therof and being arranged to engage a journal box; said arm and crank arm being extended in the same general direction.

20. In a journal box, the combination of, a floor or bottom wall, and a U-shaped strap associated with said bottom wall; said strap comprising a bed plate below said bottom wall and having opposing edges terminating in horizontally spaced substantially vertical legs attached to said bottom wall, and a crowned U-shaped clip interlocked with said bed plate.

DONALD S. BARROWS.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 2,269,618 Busch Jan. 13, 1942 2,305,949 Barrows Dec. 22, 1942 2,312,065 Barrows Feb. 23, 1943 2,159,814 McCune May 28. 1939 

